Rashad Evans News

Tom Taylor - May 24, 2019

Rashad Evans, who will soon be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame, has retired from MMA competition. That being said, he’s become a staple of the broadcast desk on UFC fight nights, where he provides excellent analysis of the action set to unfold in the cage. Speaking on SiriusXM, Rashad Evans flaunted his aptitude for high quality analysis, breaking down a potential heavyweight rematch between light heavyweight rivals Jon Jones and Daniel Cormier.

Tom Taylor - May 19, 2019

The UFC Hall of Fame continues to grow. During the UFC Rochester broadcast on Saturday, it was announced that former UFC light heavyweight champion and Ultimate Fighter season two winner Rashad Evans will be inducted into Hall of Fame’s Modern Era wing on July 5. “Rashad and I have been close since Season 2 of ‘The Ultimate Fighter,’ and we’ve had an amazing relationship,” UFC president Dana White said of Evans. “It has been fun to see him succeed and grow as a fighter, become a world champion and then a respected coach for up-and-coming fighters, and then to see him retire last year. I love to see him still involved with UFC. I couldn’t be prouder of Rashad than I am right now with him being inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame.”

Tom Taylor - November 25, 2018

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones is rarely afraid to share his opinions on his fellow fighters. On Sunday afternoon, that’s just what the MMA legend did, this time taking aim at his former opponent Rashad Evans, and at UFC Hall of Famer Chuck Liddell. Rashad Evans was the first of Jon Jones’ targets. Apparently, Evans recently made some comments that implied Jones was using performance-enhancing drugs when they fought, and that Jones’ 2016 fight with Ovince Saint Preux was the only time he’s fought without these substances in the UFC’s Octagon.

Thomas Taylor - June 27, 2018

Earlier this week, on the debut episode of Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show, former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans announced his retirement from the sport of MMA. On Wednesday afternoon, the former champ and UFC legend issued a lengthy and thoughtful statement to Instagram, detailing his decision-making process, and looking back on his time in the sport.

Thomas Taylor - June 25, 2018

Former UFC light heavyweight title challenger Rashad Evans has elected to hang up the gloves. The former champ and UFC legend announced his retirement on the inaugural edition of Ariel Helwani’s MMA Show on ESPN. Rashad Evans on next! I think you'll want to watch this one.https://t.co/7XuKPHzxSZ

Tom Taylor - June 11, 2018

Shortly after Rashad Evans was knocked out by Anthony Smith on the undercard of UFC 225, UFC President Dana White summoned him backstage to talk. White considers Evans an MMA legend, but felt a conversation was in order. “When he lost, I had him come back to my room,” White said at Saturday’s UFC 225 post-fight press conference (via MMA Fighting). “We hung out and talked, and yeah, it’s sad. Rashad was on season two of The Ultimate Fighter, so he was around through the whole building of this company. We all get old, man, and this is a young man’s sport. But if you look at what he [did], he won The Ultimate Fighter, he became a world champion, he [built] this team where he was like the guy and built all these young up-and-coming fighters. He’s been in big, huge fights.

Tom Taylor - June 10, 2018

Rashad Evans’ return to the light heavyweight division did not go as he planned. Instead, the former champion was melted by a first-round knee courtesy of his foe Anthony Smith. The loss is Evans’ fifth in a row, as he has also recently been defeated by Sam Alvey and Dan Kelly at middleweight, and Glover Teixeira and Ryan Bader at light heavyweight. This unfortunate skid has unsurprisingly led many fans to the conclusion that the time has come for Evans to ride off into the sunset.

Chris Taylor - June 9, 2018

A light heavyweight scrap between Anthony Smith and former division champion Rashad Evans served as the featured bout of tonight’s UFC 225 fight pass prelims from Chicago. Rashad Evans entered tonight’s contest on a four fight losing streak and sported a record of 19-7-1 overall.

Tom Taylor - March 12, 2018

After an unsuccessful, two-fight run in the UFC middleweight division, former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans will return to the light heavyweight division. Though the former champ was briefly linked to a showdown with former UFC middleweight champ Michael Bisping, he will instead welcome former middleweight Anthony Smith to the light heavyweight division at UFC 225, on June 9 in Chicago. This bout was first reported by ESPN’s Brett Okamoto. In his two fights in the UFC middleweight division, Evans lost controversial split decisions to Sam Alvey and Dan Kelly. His two next most recent bouts, which occurred at light heavyweight, also resulted in losses, as he was knocked out by Glover Teixeira and decisioned by current Bellator champ Ryan Bader. Evans’s last win occurred in November of 2013, when he defeated current Bellator Heavyweight Grand Prix competitor Chael Sonnen by first-round TKO. Evans is 19-7-1 overall.

Tom Taylor - February 15, 2018

For a few months, it looked as though former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping would partake in the final fight of his illustrious career in the main event of the UFC’s March 17 stop in London, England. At the time, it looked as though his opponent would be a fellow veteran and long-time friend in former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans. Eventually, however, this plan fell through. Bisping’s retirement plans were moved to the back burner, and Evans was left without an opponent.

Drake Riggs - February 12, 2018

Before Jon Jones came and took over the light heavyweight division, the 205-pound UFC title went through a revolving door of champions. From 2007 to 2011, the title was never defended more than once and saw five title changes. Right in the middle of what some called “the golden age” where 205 was one of MMA’s greatest divisions, The Ultimate Fighter season 2 winner, ‘Suga’ Rashad Evans obtained some of that gold. Evans was undefeated at the time and was a large personality who felt he wasn’t quite getting what he deserved. Something Evans believes is similar to the situation of a certain champion today. Evans spoke about the comparison today with MMAFighting:

Justin Golightly - February 6, 2018

With Michael Bisping’s career coming to a close, it’s been difficult to say the least to find an opponent for his swan song. With tons of big names at middleweight locked up or ineligible, it looked like the UFC finally had it all put together with Rashad Evans at UFC London. To our surprise — as well as Evans — it didn’t work out. The former UFC light heavyweight champion recently opened up about how he’s not sure why the fight isn’t happening, but doesn’t blame Bisping one bit. “I thought [the fight with Michael Bisping was going to happen] too, man. I got the call and I thought it was going to happen, but then things didn’t work out on the negotiation side between the UFC and Bisping. I don’t exactly know what it was about, but I guess the talks just broke down after the agreement happened. I think it was contract stuff. I think Bisping is getting to the end of his contract and that he’s been talking about retirement. I’m not too exactly 100-percent sure about what they were talking about.”

Justin Golightly - January 27, 2018

Michael Bisping is gearing up to leave the combat sports world in a couple of months, but everyone had their hands up in the air regarding a potential opponent for a myriad of reasons. However, it looks like the UFC is finally settling on a potential match-up for Bisping’s UFC London swan song. As just reported by Ariel Helwani, Bisping could potentially meet Rashad Evans in the last fight of his storied career. A main event fight between Michael Bisping & Rashad Evans is on the table for the London card on March 17. It’s currently being discussed/considered but not finalized yet. A decision will be made soon. Would be a rematch of UFC 78’s headliner, which Evans won via split decision.

Tom Taylor - September 27, 2017

Back in 2008, when he held the UFC light heavyweight title, Rashad Evans was considered the best light heavyweight fighter on the planet. Even after he lost that title, succumbing to punches dealt by the surging Lyoto Machida, he was still regarded as one of the division’s very best. Unfortunately, Evans eventually began to decline. After failing to reclaim the light heavyweight title from his heated rival Jon Jones, the former champ lost a tepid decision to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, defeated Dan Henderson and Chael Sonnen, and then lost decisively to Ryan Bader and Glover Teixeira. With this diminishing success, he finally made a long-discussed move down to the middleweight division.

Chris Taylor - August 5, 2017

A middleweight scrap between former light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans and Sam Alvey took place during tonight’s UFC Fight Night 114 main card in Mexico. Round one begins and Alvey takes the center of the octagon. Rashad fakes a jab and then circles off of the fence. Evans re-establishes himself and then throws a low kick that lands. Evans shoots in for a double-leg takedown attempt but Alvey is able to defend. Sam with a good knee inside from the clinch position. Rashad rips a right hand to the body. Evans drops down for another takedown attempt but Sam once again is able to defend the shot. Alvey with a nice elbow from the clinch. He follows that up with a knee to the body of Evans. Rashad once again shoots and this time he is able to drag Alvey to the floor. Sam quickly works his way back up to his feet. He fires off a nice knee and then presses Rashad against the cage. The fighters break and Evans circles out. Alvey charges forward with a combination that misses. Rashad replies with a right hand that partially lands. Thirty seconds remain in round one. Alvey charges forward with a right hand. Round one comes to an end.

Scott Hernandez - March 14, 2017

At UFC 209 earlier this year, former UFC light heavyweight champion Rasahd Evans made his highly anticipated UFC middleweight debut after several setbacks in his drop to middleweight. Entering into the Octagon at UFC 209 against Olympic Judoka Dan Kelly, Rashad Evans was riding a 2-fight skid that saw him drop back to back losses to Ryan Bader and Glover Teixeira, with the second one being a rather vicious knockout loss.

Chris Taylor - March 5, 2017

Middleweight fighter Dan Kelly (13-1 MMA) improved his UFC record to an impressive 6-1 yesterday in Las Vegas by scoring a split-decision victory over former light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans on the UFC 209 main card. Both Evans and Kelly had their own respective moments in the fight, but it seemed that Kelly’s forward pressure and willingness to go after Evans swayed the judges in his favor.

Tom Taylor - March 5, 2017

On Saturday night, on the main card of the stacked UFC 209, former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans made his long-awaited debut in the middleweight division. His opponent in this middleweight debut was Australia’s Dan Kelly – a tough opponent, but certainly a surmountable challenge too. Though Evans enjoyed plenty of success over the course of this three-round middleweight debut, it didn’t go the way he planned, as the judges ultimately gave Kelly a split decision win.